2: Help Chad in its struggle against tobacco

Tobacco is the first avoidable cause of mortality in the world

Today, who still doubts the harmful effects of tobacco? Of course, millions of people! Especially those living in low-income countries who are not yet aware and often have a very limited understanding of just how poisonous and deadly cigarette smoke is to smokers and those around smokers. It is in these countries that tobacco addiction, as opposed to what one can believe in developed countries, is spreading more and more. Why? Because regulations and laws are becoming more strict for the tobacco industry to operate at ease in the richer countries, where governments and NGOs are trying to protect peoples’ health. So the tobacco manufacturers revert to attacking newer and less “protected” populations. Corrupt governments, unregulated markets and a pool of young people are especially attractive to the cigarette industry. The harm they cause to a poor country is unnecessary and enormous. In terms of the long-term health of its population, most of whom will never be able to get proper treatment, it is a catastrophe. In terms of increasing poverty of the already very poor it is shameful. Cigarettes cost less than water and are highly addictive. Moreover, cigarettes in Africa are stronger and contain more nicotine, at levels forbidden in Europe. This way the cigarette maker addicts the African smoker even faster and usually he will remain smoking until the day he dies. Often in very painful conditions at a premature age. But even in terms of agriculture revenue, tobacco constitutes an overall loss, because curing the tobacco depletes the land of its trees, one kilo of tobacco leaves need four kilos of wood to be burnt to prepare it for the market. In all areas, tobacco is considered a negative factor for a country’s economy and well-being. Even the World Bank’s report says so.

Without knowledge, without means of treatment or even detection of the health problems related to tobacco use, the populations in these countries are all the more vulnerable to the manipulations of Big Tobacco. Africa, for example, has seen its curve of tobacco consumption increase sharply over the past ten years. This continent is already sufficiently afflicted by AIDS, malaria and hunger. Africa has enough problems to solve and does not deserve the slavery caused by nicotine dependence and its preventable deaths, which in the process results in even less money reaching the family budget. Despite criticism and a new framework convention on tobacco control adopted by WHO, international tobacco corporations continue to hit hard with marketing experts, lobbyists and generally false publicity about their products. Faced with this kind of predatory attitude, the world cannot just sit still and watch Big Tobacco spread disease, poverty and death. HealthCam is one way to resist Big Tobacco. Please help us spread the truth around the world.

• WHO report on the progress of tobacco addiction
• atlas of the tobacco 2006
• WHO and Africa